No earnings for road vendors today in view of Modi’s rally

Vendors have been left disappointed with the directions of the police to not setup stalls and carts at Dana Mandi on Friday where Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address a rally.

The police have also warned vendors against stationing carts on the vacant areas near the national highway, else they would have to face strict action.

These vendors, who generally sell eatables or other articles near Jalandhar Bypass, Karbara Chowk, Jodhewal Basti Chowk and adjoining areas, claimed that they ran their businesses at some distance from the road. Hence, their carts didn’t create any hurdles in traffic, adding that many of them were breadwinner of their families.

“I have a family of five and I am the only earner. I sell tea to commuters from my stall, which is away from the road. Police personnel have directed me to keep the stall closed on Friday as Modi will address a rally in city. However, the venue for the rally is around one kilometre from here,” Rajiv Kumar, a vendor near Jalandhar Bypass, said.

Another eatables’ vendor, requesting anonymity, said, “It will be difficult to manage two square meals if we don’t do any work. The police have warned me against setting up stall on Friday, otherwise I will have to face strict action.”

“We are not anti-social elemen t s. We are just selling eatables here so that our family can get food, which depends on our daily sale. If we don’t ear n on Friday, what will we eat?” he rued.

“The inter nal roads of city continue to be encroached, but nobody pays attention, even as ambulances and other vehicles generally get stuck in traf fic snarls. But I am being told not to station my cart, which is as it is placed more than 10-feet away from the national highway,” he added. Despite several attempts police commissioner Sanjeev Kalra could not be contacted.